Chiropractic or Chiropractors - What is Chiropractic?
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a natural health care profession. The focus is on the musculo-skeletal system as well as the nervous system. The approach is to look at how these systems are impacting a patient's health. Common symptoms that are treated by chiropractors include back pain, neck pain, headaches and joint pain. There are of course many others.
Chiropractors are also known as doctors of chiropractic. They have extensive knowledge in the ability to diagnose and treat many musculoskeletal and neurological dysfunctions. The approach is without drugs and is hands-on to find the cause or causes of a patient's symptoms. They are also trained to recommend stretches, exercises, as well as dietary and lifestyle recommendations.
Chiropractors generally have an extensive consultation with a patient at the onset. Then they perform an extensive orthopedic and neurological examination, as well as checking how well the spine moves and how tight the surrounding musculature may be. X-rays may be done if they doctor feels that they are necessary. The doctor will then review all of the information from the consultation, examination and x-rays to make an informed decision on which treatments will work best for your case.
The chiropractor will then go over their recommendations with you. In most cases, chiropractic adjustments or manipulation is recommended. This consists of applying a controlled force to an area where movement is restricted or reduced. It is this reduced movement over time that can 'pinch' or irritate surrounding nerves, thereby causing symptoms. The adjustment or manipulation restores movement and circulation, alleviating pain and muscle tightness. It also removes the nerve irritation. Over time, treatment allows the areas affected to heal properly.
A common question asked is, is treatment painful. Chiropractic adjustments rarely cause pain or discomfort. There are a few patients that may experience some soreness after treatment, which is similar to exercising an area of your body that is out of shape.
The treatment itself is designed to improve function of the nervous system as well as the musculoskeletal system. This is accomplished through successive treatments that realign vertebrae, which improve the function of both systems.
In most cases, the symptoms are reduced or gone in a short period of time. This is because the treatment is aimed at finding the cause of the symptom and how to remove the cause. Medicating the symptom simply covers it up and does not address the cause. When the symptom is gone, this does not mean that the problem is gone. This is due to the fact that the body has to heal all of the surrounding areas. If the proper healing does not take place, patients risk a relapse. When proper healing does take place, patients are less likely to have a relapse and less likely to have their initial problems in the future.
A chiropractor may also recommend wellness or maintenance care to patients, once the proper healing has taken place. This is designed to maintain optimum function of the musculo-skeletal system as well as the nervous system. We strive to be the best chiropractors in Richmond, VA.
Call today to schedule an examination and consultation: (804) 740-9300.
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<span class="fn">Google Richmond VA Chiropractor</span>
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<span class>="rating">5.0</span>
<span class="reviewer">Susan Jensen</span>
<abbr class="dtreviewed" title=20120214>Frbruary 14th
<span class="summary">"My back feels great..."</span>
<span class="description">"I haven't had any back pain in months. My leg pain is gone as well. My mobility has increased significantly."
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Spinal Correction Center of Richmond
8536 Patterson Avenue
Richmond, VA 23229
(on the corner of Parham & Patterson
in the Beverly Hills Shopping Center)
(804) 740-PAIN